Sectional bookcase.



No. 640,078. Paten ted Dec. 26, I899.

E. E. BAKER.

SEGTIUNAL BOOKCASE.

(Application filed Apr. 19, 1898.)

2 Sheets-=Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

' NrTEn STATES PATENT Fries.

EDWARD E. BAKER, or PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

SECTIONAL BOOKCASE.

srncrrrcrirroiv forming part of Letters Patent Nb. 640,078, dated December 26, 189.

Application filed April 19, 1898. Serial No. 678,105. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD E. BAKER, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Sectional Bookcases, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a perspective View showing two sections of my improved case in position with the door of the upper sectionremoved. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of one of the sections. Fig. 3 is a partial rear elevation showing the means for locking the sections end to end. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the lining I employ. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the cover detached; and Fig. 6 is a top plan view of one of the sections, partly broken away.

My invention relates to the class of sectional cases or crates which are built up of a.

number of units, and it is designed to cheapen and improve the construction of these cases, to make them dust-proof, and to provide novel means for interlocking the sections.

In the drawings, 2 represents one of the sections, which is composed of a bottom 3, sides 4 4c, and a back 5, each section being open at its top and front. To the up er edge of each side is fastened a strip 6, which is provided with a base 7 and with right-angled end flanges S 8, which are preferably flush with the front and rear edges of the sides. The bottom of each section is rabbeted or recessed at its ends, so as to fit within the strips 6 of the next lower section, these rabbets extending around the end portions of the bottom, as shown at 9 9, so that the joints between the sect-ions are covered by these strips.

To look the sections together at their ends where the units are placed end to end, I pivot to the rear face of one section, near its end, a swinging latch 10, having a hooked portion which engages a headed screw 11 upon the rear face of the adjacent section, so that the sections are held in proper position. This latch is preferably made of considerable length, as shown, so as to act as a brace to prevent movement of one section relative to the next.

Within each section I place a lining, (shown in Fig. 4,) this lining consisting of a top and bottom 12 and 13 and ends 1 1 and being made of comparatively thin material. The lining is made of less height than the section, so that sufficient room will be left between the top of the'lining and the bottom of the next section above to allow the door 15 to slide back within the space thus provided. The top of the lining is preferably provided with a hand-hole 16, by which it may be inserted and removed. At the top of each end of the lining is provided a metallic strip 16, which is provided at its front end with a projecting pin or hook 17. These hooks engage suitable grooves 18 in the rear faces of the end members of the door, cover-plates 19 being provided at the rear ends of the grooves, within which the hooks rest when the door is closed, as shown in Fig. 2.

The operation of the door is clearly indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, the top member of this door being preferably curved, as shown at 20, to allow it to be swung upwardly before it is pushed back over the lining. When the door is thus moved back, it rest-s upon the top strips 16 of the lining.

The advantages of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The lining provides shoulders within the section against which the door rests when closed, thus making the section practically dustproof. The top of the lining forms a false cover, over which the door slides within the chamber formed between it and the bottom of the next section. The strips at the top of each section interlock one section or unit with the next section above and prevent movement in any direction. The mechanism for locking the sections end to end being placed upon their rear faces, these sections may be brought closely together without any gap be- -ing between them, and the lock is hidden from View.

Many variations may be made in the form and the size of the section, the lining, and the interlocking metal strips without departing from my invention, since I claim- 1. In sectional cases, a pair of open-topped sections arranged to be stacked one above the other, the lower section having at each end an upwardly-projecting strip provided with a right-angled extension along the side and of a length corresponding to the thickness of the end board, the upper section having recesses arranged to receive the strip and extension; substantially as described.

2. In sectional cases, a pair of sections, the lower having an open top and provided at its ends with upwardly-projecting strips having right-angled front and rear extensions of a length corresponding to the thickness of the end board, the upper section having its end board provided with recesses to receive the strips and extensions; substantially as described.

3. A case having a lining provided with a bottom and vertical end portions, said ends being of less height than the interior of the case, the lining being of less depth than the case, and a vertical swinging cover arranged toslide back between the upper ends of the lining and the top of the case, said cover rest ingagainst the front of the lining when in closed position; substantially as described.

4. A case containing a lining, strips secured to the end of the lining and provided with hooks or pins, and a swinging cover having rear grooves arranged to be engaged by the hooks or pins; substantially as described.

5. In sectional cases, a section containing a lining, strips secured to the top of the lining at its ends, and a swinging cover having grooves engaged by the hooks or pins, one end of each groove being inclosed by metal plates; substantially as described.

6. In sectional cases, an open-top section containing a removable lining having a top, bottom and end portions, the ends being of less height than the section, and the lining being of less depth than the section, and a swinging and sliding door arranged to slide back between the top of the lining and the top of the case, said cover resting against the front of the lining when in closed position; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

EDWARD E. BAKER.

Witnesses:

G. B. BLEMMING, LEILA M. REDMAN. 

